It’s scary when your car breaks down out of town, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the area and possibly need a tow truck. The towing experts at Discount Towing and Recovery in Mountain Home, AR, recommend a proper course of action both before and during your journey to secure your safety and the safety of other motorists. Here, they list a few steps you should take to protect yourself, get the help you need, and get back on the road faster.

3 Preventative Steps Before Calling a Tow Truck

1.) Prepare an Emergency Roadside Kit

Keeping an emergency roadside kit in the trunk of your vehicle is one of your best lines of defense when your car breaks down. You can usually buy a 30- or 40-piece kit complete with gloves, a flashlight, flares, various tools, blanket, provisions, and warning triangles. You should also keep a first aid kid, as well, just in case of an emergency. This will ensure that you are prepared no matter what type of roadside distress you may be in.

2.) Set Up Flares & Warning Triangles

If your car breaks down on a long stretch of road, the warning triangles will help define a clear line between you and the main road for other motorists. If you’re driving through a scarcely populated area, the flares will be able to alert someone you need help. However, if you suspect a leak is the reason your car broke down, make sure to move far enough away from your car to light the flares to avoid an explosion.

3.) Call Your Motorist Vehicle Club

It’s a good idea to sign up for a motorist club in advance so that you can receive expedited roadside assistance. However, if you have not taken this precautionary step, you can use your phone to call the nearest towing service to send a tow truck to your location. There are a variety of different options for towing, but your basic 24/7 services should get you to the nearest auto shop. From there, mechanics can provide a tire change, jump-start your car, or recommend car rental services if your vehicle will take some more time to fix.

If you need a tow truck, trust the experts at Discount Towing and Recovery. They specialize in a variety of services from used auto parts to lockouts and, of course, professional and affordable towing. Give them a call at (870) 425-1775 or visit their website for more information.